SPRINGFIELD – Two major gifts, one from a long-time donor, the other from a first-timer, have generously boosted the 89th annual Toy for Joy campaign by $20,000.

That first-time donor, the technology-based corporation Thing5, contributed $15,000 to Toy for Joy this week.

The Hampden County Correctional Center inmates’ commissary fund, which has donated to Toy for Joy for many years, presented a $5,000 donation.

Toy for Joy, jointly sponsored by the Salvation Army and The Republican, is working to raise $150,000 by Friday to cover the costs of bringing toys and gifts to thousands of children this holiday season.

David Thor, managing director for Thing5, which supports technology for the travel and leisure industries, said personnel opted to give a major boost to Toy for Joy after reading that the fund-raising campaign still had a significant way to go towards reaching its goal.

Thing5, which has about 1,100 employees, including 100 in Springfield, is growing rapidly, Thor said.

“We are quiet because we don’t do business here,” Thor said, adding that the Springfield operation is based at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “We wanted to participate more in the community as we grow.”

Sheriff Michael J. Ashe said the commissary fund is accrued through the sales of coffee, snacks, envelopes and the like.

“It’s a case of the inmates giving back to the community,” Ashe said, adding that it’s a wise donation because many of those incarcerated at the Hampden County Correctional Center at Stonybrook in Ludlow have children who benefit from Toy for Joy.

John Suchocki / The Republican21911 - Ludlow - Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe with the $5,000 donation for the Toy for Joy from donations of the Sheriff's department personal who were represented by officer Jose Ramos, Victor Kelly and Cpl. Barbara VanValkenburg

“The unexpected gift by the employees of Thing5 and the continued generosity of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department are both a source of great reassurance that there are kind and generous people who make up our communities in Western Massachusetts,” said Cynthia G. Simison, managing editor of The Republican. “This season is all about giving, and every donor, no matter the size of the contribution, ensures we are able to bring smiles to the faces of many, many children on Christmas morning. It can be the gift of a family in memory of a loved one, pennies gathered by school children or a collection made at a variety store, like JJ’s in Westfield. Every single gift is important.”

Contributors in today’s list of donations, which tallies to $26,611, include the eight grandchildren of the late Jaime Ulloa.

Ulloa, who became a quadriplegic after a diving accident, was widely known for his community activism, his tireless dedication to the disabled and others in need of a helping hand.

“It’s something that he really focused his life on and by extension, made clear to us, his children and grandchildren that a big part of life is giving back to others,” said Shaun Ulloa, one of the eight grandchildren.

“Give to others, that’s what both my parents taught,” said Cathy Ulloa. The elder Ulloa died 30 years ago, and a park in the North End is named in his honor.

Toy for Joy still needs to raise $52,237 to meet its goal.

he 8 grandchildren of the late Jaime Ulloa of Springfield have donated to Toy for Joy. Shown here from the left is Aanalisa Fazio, Catalina Ulloa-Hiltz and Marco Ulloa-Hiltz.

Hasbro, Inc. this year joined Toy for Joy as a partner, providing some of the toys which were distributed.Hasbro has a long history of helping families in Western Massachusetts during the holidays and this year is no different.

By teaming with the Toy for Joy campaign, Hasbro, The Republican and the Salvation Army bring over 100 combined years of experience managing programs that help families in need give their children a toy or game to unwrap on their holiday. Hasbro employees have also been among the volunteers who aided the Salvation Army with registration and distribution of toys and gift.

For more information, call (413) 733-1518. To make a contribution to the Toy for Joy fund, write: Toy for Joy, P.O. Box 3007, Springfield 01102. Contributions may also be dropped off with the coupon to The Republican, 1860 Main St., Springfield, weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. through noon on Friday.

Here’s a list of the latest contributors:

Happy holidays from the leadership team and employees at Thing5, $15,000
Happy holidays from the Hampden County Jail Inmates Commissary Fund, $5,000
In loving memory of Jaime Ulloa from your eight grandchildren, Jaime, Shaun, Christina, Miguel, Analisa, Loli, Catalina and Marco, $80
In memory of Helen and Ray Provost, $100
In memory of the Rosati family, my husband Guido and my sister Tina Hottin, love you, $10
Merry Christmas Dutchie and Bella from Ray, $25
To make Christmas merrier for the children from Phelps School faculty, $140
Merry Christmas from the Beturnes, $25
In honor of Cleland Stephens’ 90th birthday from the King family, $30
For grandsons Aiden and Kieran, $25
Merry Christmas from Christien, Nathan and Owen, $20
Phoebe, $30
From Jake, Josh and Katie, $50
From Castlegate Drive friends, $40
In loving memory of our parents from Ron and Noreen, $50
In memory of my beloveds, Gramps, Ma and JK, $50
God bless the children from Mrs. Santa, $25
Merry Christmas from Barb and Ed, $50
In loving memory of Louis and Germaine and Paul Morin, $25
In memory of Abe and Ines Albano, $1000
In memory of Fred from Red, $20
Merry Christmas from Joyce, $100
In memory of loved ones, $15
In loving memory of my parents Adeline and Don Charest from Tom, $30
In lieu of gifts to my coworkers at Hasbro from Bob and Nancy, $50
In memory of my dad, William LaRochelle. Miss you, $50
In memory of Julie, $25
In memory of Margaret Russell, Mildred Dumas, $40
Thank you St. Jude for continued support, Dawn S, $20
George and Jackie, $250
In memory of Manser Hapcock, John Barney and Tom Thompson, $50
Memory of Grace and Don Liberty and John Klisiewicz, $100
In loving memory of Moira from the family, $100
In memory of Dick and Doris Cote and Bob and Barbara O’Connor, $25
In memory of Albert Ronini and Fuzz Kellogg, $20
In memory of ESH, DBH, DEH, CLB and DLB, $15
In dear loving memory of Dr. L. Lester Cohan, my father, my best friend. Love, Lana, $20
In memory of Suki Beucke, the Christmas puppy, $20
Remembering Ray and Dot Hosley and George and June Keefe, $15
MJ, $20
In memory of Grace and John Lazazzera, Lena Bitsacos, Leo Remillard, Maureen and Sal Scibelli, $20
In memory of all the sisters of Notre Dame, $50
Merry Christmas to all from Don and Marie, $250
Remembering Daddy, Ting, Jenna and TeeJae from Cindi, Zeke and Lacie, $25
For my 13 grandchildren, $13
In memory of my husband Edward Lubas from wife Doris, $25
Merry Christmas from Connor and GiGi, $25
For Ellie who loved Christmas, $25
Wishing everyone a Christmas filled with peace and joy from Stan and Barb, $100
Thank you St. Jude and Anthony for prayers answered, favors granted, JG, $20
Peace and abundance for all from Tom and Teri, $50
In loving memory of my husband Joe Marazzi by wife Marion, $10
In loving memory of Pop from John, Liz, Pete, Josie, Mike, Dan and Trev, $50
In memory of GG, $25
Merry Christmas Michael, Katie and Dusty, $25
In memory of Christopher J Knight. Sadly missed by Mom, Dad and Brian, $30
Merry Christmas to all children from Sam, Lucy and Ruby, $25
In memory of Stanley Gallup and Rose and Tom Haynes, $50
In memory of Ron Harrison and Boo, $25
In thanksgiving for our grandsons Jacob and Jameson, $20
In loving memory of Bill Curtis Jr., $25
In celebration of the birth of Chloe Elizabeth, $50
God bless the little people from William and Anne, $100
In thanks for our grandchildren Sarah, Parker, Alex, Sophie and Stella, $50
In memory of Mom, Dad, Donnie, Debbie and Kevin, $50
Helping Amelia share her blessings, Grandma and Grandpa, $50
Anonymous, $20
Book Club, $70
Wally, $50
In memory of Brian Eric, $20
Loving memory of Mom and Dad from Steven and Sheila, $25
In memory of Salem and Sabrina, $10
William and Margaret, $20
Merry Christmas from the drivers at Sunshine Village, $50
Have a wonderful Christmas from Nellie, $10
In memory of Ti Ti Connie, $20
Merry Christmas and God bless from Jim and Sally, $25
Raymond and Cecelia White, $30
From three loving grandmothers, $30
In memory of Bob, George, Evelyn, Paul, Shirley and Mania, $25
In loving memory of Joseph and Mary Frydryk and Karl Dygon from Carl and Patty, $25
Jane and Pierce, $100
From Public Safety and Management employees at Eastfield Mall, $100
Merry Christmas from the employees at the Longmeadow Town Hall, $150
To my parents Kenneth and Marjorie Chapin, father-in-law Mike Miller and son Kenny, know that you are always in my heart and sadly missed, love Ken, $40
In memory of Pauline Schonauer, $25
St. Mary’s Girls Softball Division, $100
In loving memory of my mother Helen Kennedy, grandparents William and Glee Rich and Mozart and Tiki, love Kathleen and Sebastian, $20
Christmas together in heaven, Tio, Tia, Sally, Michael, BJ and Brenda, $30
In memory of our beloved daughter, Beth Girotti. Love, Mom and Dad, $20
In memory of our parents Betty and Pickles Harrington. Love, Judy and Dave, $20
In memory of our parents Ray and Angie Girotti. Love, Dave and Judy, $20
In memory of our father and Popau Socco Babacas. Love, Pam, Bobby, Krysten, Jen and Katie, $25
In loving memory of my mom Mary Lorraine Boronski. Missing you so very much. Love, Sue, $25
Anonymous, $10
From the Hampden Golfing group, in memory of Vincent McGovern, $538
In memory of Joe and Rita Leary from Bob and Eileen Zewski, $25
In memory of Frances Potter Colvin and Thomas Potter, $50
Merry Christmas Aunt Stasia. Love, Mark, Jan, Alex, Rebecca, Michael and Nick, $50
Merry Christmas Aunt Cece. Love, Mark, Jan, Alex, Rebecca, Michael and Nick, $50
Merry Christmas from Accu Finish Orthodontic Lab, $25
From all our great customers at JJ’s Variety in Westfield, $100
Merry Christmas to all from Alpha Oil Company, $100
Anonymous, $50
Nick, Carolyn, Buddy and Brittany Athas, $25
Gerard and Maya, $30
In memory of Sharon, Robin and Bill, $60
In memory of Doris, Paul and Al from Sunday Money Makers, $50
Merry Christmas to all the children from Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative’s Hampden-Wilbraham bus drivers, $145
In loving memory of two of our coworkers, Paul Hackett and Brian Boyden, from their friends at M.J. Moran Inc., $250